Combining HEIs' international talent attraction and regional engagement

Universities are important institutions in the peripheral regions, contributing to processes of regional economic development and innovative growth. This chapter investigates the balance between international orientation and regional engagement of the academic community of a peripheral region. Peripheral regions are in many cases associated with closeness and thick social capital. In such regions, the quadruple helix model combining HE actors, public authorities, business community and local social community groups may be at the very heart of knowledge-based regional development. On the other hand, peripheral regions may lack the vital international connections contributing to innovation and economic renewal. Therefore, international recruiting and talent-attraction activities are an integral part of the strategies of higher education institutions (HEIs). This is a great challenge, especially for the HEIs located in a peripheral region. Ultimately, both international and regional connections and collaboration are dependent on academic individuals. The empirical context is the city of Seinäjoki, Finland, a semirural region known for its production of food, metal and wood products.